Treatment of osteochondrosis at home is part of complex therapy. It is performed when the patient does not have persistent polymorphic headache accompanied by dizziness, tinnitus, and visual disturbances. Recurrent numbness and weakness in the arms, instability in blood pressure and heart rate are also considered contraindications to home therapy.
Osteochondrosis is caused by bone growth in the vertebral bodies with the formation of osteophytes and drying out of the intervertebral cartilage. The formation of intervertebral hernias, which press on nerves and blood vessels, is particularly dangerous. In advanced cases of osteochondrosis, an acute violation of the cerebral circulation is possible, which has serious consequences for the patient.
Medicines to treat osteochondrosis at home
When treating cervical osteochondrosis at home, doctors prescribe the following drugs, taken orally or injected into the muscles:
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - diclofenac, meloxicam;
- Muscle relaxants - tolperisone hydrochloride;
- Group vitamins - thiamine hydrochloride;
- Painkiller;
- anticonvulsant - drotaverine hydrochloride.
In addition, topical preparations applied to the affected area are a great help in the quick treatment of cervical osteochondrosis. Therefore, gels and creams containing NSAIDs, as well as ointments with a warming or cooling effect, are widely used.
Medicines are indicated for exacerbations of osteochondrosis, including the appearance of persistent pain in the cervical spine, numbness, and cramps in the hands. The same drugs are used in home treatment for lumbar osteochondrosis.
If chest osteochondrosis is detected, home treatment will be arranged in advance with a cardiologist to rule out cardiac pathology.
In the stage of remission of osteochondrosis, chondroprotectors and calcium derivatives help.
Alternative treatment
Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk methods involves the use of recipes that have been tried and tested for centuries to relieve pain and restore mobility in different parts of the spine.
Compresses for the treatment of osteochondrosis at home
Compresses with bishopit, a natural combination of potassium, magnesium, calcium and other trace elements, relieve pain in cervical osteochondrosis. Before doing this, the agent must be warmed to body temperature and rubbed into the painful area with light circular movements.
After that, put a bandage soaked in a healing solution on the spine affected by osteochondrosis, cover it with cellophane and isolate it with a woolen cloth. It is optimal to do the procedures before going to bed and thoroughly rinse off the remains of the product with warm water after the treatment.
Treatment with such a folk remedy for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine should be carried out every other day, as this can provoke allergic reactions and a worsening of the pathology of various organs. The course of therapy is at least 12 sessions. In the event of adverse reactions and poor tolerability, the procedure time is shortened to 3 hours or doctors look for another way to help the patient.
Other popular recipes for compresses for osteochondrosis:
- Burdock goes.Pour boiling water over and apply it to the affected area. Wrap with a woolen cloth for 40 minutes.
- Raw potatoes and honey.Mix the grated root vegetables with honey in equal proportions, put it on the diseased back and insulate it with polyethylene and wool. The duration of the osteochondrosis procedure is approximately 2 hours.
- Dandelion, St. John's wort and burdock.Take the leaves of the plants in equal amounts, pour boiling water for half an hour. Fix the compress from the warm infusion with a bandage for 3 hours.
- Aloe.Mix the crushed leaves of a medicinal plant with honey and vodka, the amount of which should be twice the weight of the aloe. Insist for a week. Apply to the painful part of the spine, wrap. The compress is kept for 3 hours or overnight with good tolerance.
Infusions and decoctions for the treatment of osteochondrosis at home
At home, chondrosis can be treated with herbal medicine. Usually, infusions and decoctions are prepared for these purposes. Medicinal plants help improve microcirculation, strengthen the tendon ligament apparatus and stop the destruction of cartilage. They also reduce inflammation and normalize the metabolism of minerals in the body.
Effective methods of using medicinal plants for osteochondrosis:
- Pour 0. 5 liters of boiling water with 40 g of dried horsetail leaves for 1 hour. After sieving, drink 70 ml before meals for 3 weeks. Treatment for osteochondrosis can be resumed a week later.
- Take 25 g each of chamomile and mint, pour boiling water into a volume of 300 ml and keep in a water bath for 15 minutes. Apply 100 ml twice a day. The treatment lasts 3 weeks.
- Pour finely chopped parsley root (100 g) with a liter of water. Keep on low heat for about an hour. For osteochondrosis, drink a tablespoon twice a day for a month.
- Pour a mixture of lemon balm herb (15 grams), chopped orange peel (30 grams) and hot water (0. 5 liters) for an hour. Then add a teaspoon of honey and 15 drops of valerian tincture. Drink 1 glass twice a day for at least a month.
Applications for the treatment of osteochondrosis at home
This method of treatment with folk remedies is widely used for osteochondrosis of the breast. Applications have a distracting, analgesic effect, relieve inflammation and improve local blood circulation.
Pepper patch is used in the pathology of any part of the spine, including osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree of the lumbar spine. The skin must be pretreated with alcoholic solutions and dried. The application is used with the coverage of the entire affected area, or small, rounded pieces of a plaster are stuck to the most painful areas near the vertebrae. The patch will be replaced after 48 hours.
Mustard plasters have the same effect on cervical osteochondrosis. At home, a simple procedure will help relieve pain, improve cerebral blood flow and lymph circulation in the head and neck area.
Dimethyl sulfoxide applications are widely used. In order for the drug to have a positive effect, it must be used strictly according to the instructions: dissolve in warm boiling water in a ratio of 1: 3. The amount of solution obtained should only be calculated for one procedure. To make the treatment more effective, you can add niacin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and analgesics.
Treatment for osteochondrosis takes at least half an hour. If it is well tolerated, it can be used overnight. The duration of therapy is at least 15 interventions.
Reflexology techniques are demonstrated in the treatment of osteochondrosis. At home, needle applicators with the brand of an author are used for this.
These devices are used in both osteochondrosis exacerbation and extinction. They relieve pain in the spine, have a harmonizing effect on the body and improve the patient's psychoemotional state.
The duration of the procedure and the frequency of use of the product in osteochondrosis should be agreed with the doctor. The parameters depend on the age and the degree of destruction of the intervertebral discs.
Rubbing for the treatment of osteochondrosis at home
In osteochondrosis, means are often used to rub the affected part of the neck or back. The following alcohol solutions, ointments have a good effect at home:
- Take 25 g of pork fat, melt and mix with the same volume of chopped hop cones. Leave on for a few hours. Warm up slightly, rub gently into the painful area, preferably before going to bed.
- Mix chopped bay leaves with chopped pine or fir needles in a ratio of 1: 5. Add butter to get the consistency of an ointment. Put in a cold place for a week. Use 1-2 times a day without the possibility of hypothermia.
- Pour the ground horseradish root in equal parts with vodka. The tincture can be applied after 5 days and rub on the most painful place.
- Mix the leaves and flowers of the marigold with an equal amount of vodka and camphor alcohol. Let stand in a dark place for 10 days. Shake well before use.
Folk remedies for chondrosis reduce muscle spasms and pain, normalize blood circulation and relieve inflammation. In order to achieve stable positive results, you need to repeat the course of treatment in consultation with your doctor.
Baths for the treatment of osteochondrosis at home
When treating the back at home, water treatments are effective. Warm sea salt baths are popular.
The addition of essential oils - lavender, valerian, laurel, pine - has a positive effect. Baths relax the muscles, relieve pain, and soothe the person.
The duration of the osteochondrosis procedure is half an hour. You need to take a bath within a month. The frequency of the sessions is recommended by the doctor.
Exercise therapy
Physiotherapy helps get rid of osteochondrosis at home.
Exercise has the following effects:
- Strengthening the back muscles, which increases the tolerance of the spine to sudden movements, weight lifting and physical overload;
- Improvement of blood and lymph circulation in the paravertebral muscles and ligaments;
- Restoration of cartilage and tendon tissue.
A suitable complex is selected by the doctor depending on the spine affected by osteochondrosis and the general condition of the patient. Exercise therapy is prescribed at any stage of osteochondrosis. It is strictly forbidden to choose exercises yourself.
You can not do medical gymnastics in the following cases:
- pronounced pain syndrome with exacerbation of osteochondrosis;
- Restoration of pathology in the form of an intervertebral hernia, compressing the nerve endings and vessels of the spinal cord and surrounding muscles;
- verified vertebral body instability;
- Infectious diseases with fever;
- varterial hypertension with high blood pressure;
- oncological problems.
If you have had a heart attack or stroke in the past, you cannot exercise at home because you will need constant medical supervision.
Basic recommendations for performing osteochondrosis exercises:
- The duration of the daily lesson is no more than 30 minutes.
- The minimum course lasts 90-100 days.
- Classes take place in a warm, ventilated and clean room.
- sharp movements and increased pain when doing gymnastics are excluded;
- The complex always begins with a warm-up, which prepares the muscles for subsequent loads.
- gentle increase in frequency and range of motion.
diet
Often times, the development of osteochondrosis is provoked by poor diet. A nutritionist will help you regulate it at home.
Postulates of therapeutic nutrition in osteochondrosis:
- low calorie content;
- Emphasis on dairy and plant foods;
- Balance in the main food components, minerals, vitamins;
- Products are eaten boiled or steamed;
- Restriction of salt and sugar, spices;
- Fragmentation of food intake in small portions;
- early dinner - 3-4 hours before bedtime;
- Drinking water at least 3 liters per day.
Permitted products are lean meat and fish, eggs, grains, herbs, vegetables, fruit, seafood and high-quality mild cheese.
With osteochondrosis, you should limit the use of coffee, pastries, carbonated and alcoholic beverages, sweets, spicy, fatty and canned foods. Broths, smoked meat and sausages are prohibited.
You can not use dubious diets with one or more products - meat, apples, kefir, rice. Fasting with osteochondrosis is contraindicated.
How not to be treated
Traditional recipes for treating osteochondrosis are only part of the treatment strategy. Don't just rely on the advice of healers and healers. The choice of folk remedies used at home should be agreed with the doctor after the diagnosis. Self-medication is dangerous and can be harmful.
Only proven and safe recipes should be used at home. The patient should be aware that a positive result can only be achieved with permanent and long-term treatment.
During the treatment of osteochondrosis, it is necessary to avoid physical overload, hypothermia and stress.
Traditional medicine in the treatment of osteochondrosis is an effective addition to pharmaceuticals, physical therapy procedures, exercise therapy, and diet. At home, it accelerates the onset of remission, restores the ability to work and normalizes the patient's emotional tone.